In today’s world, designers are expected to create designs that are not only visually appealing but also interactive and functional. This has led to a debate about whether designers should learn to code or not. Some argue that designers should learn to code, while others believe that it is unnecessary. In my opinion, designers should learn to code as it helps them to create designs that are both visually pleasing and functionally efficient.
“The best designer is the one who can write the best code.” – Jeff Atwood, co-founder of Stack Overflow
Learning to code provides designers with a deeper understanding of how the web and digital products work. By understanding the technical aspect of their designs, designers can create designs that are not only visually appealing but also functionally efficient.For example, if a designer knows how to code, they can create responsive designs that adapt to different screen sizes and devices. This allows users to have a seamless experience across different platforms.
“Code is the new literacy.” – Mitch Resnick, MIT Media Lab
Moreover, learning to code enables designers to communicate better with developers. When designers can speak the same language as developers, it becomes easier for them to collaborate and create designs that are technically feasible. This collaboration leads to better products that meet both the user’s needs and the business objectives.
“Designers who code are the unicorns of the industry.” – Sacha Greif, designer and developer
Another benefit of learning to code is that it helps designers to experiment with new designs and functionalities. They can quickly prototype and test their designs without relying on developers. This leads to a more efficient and iterative design process, which ultimately leads to better products.
“Knowing how to code will make you a better designer, just as knowing how to design will make you a better developer.” – Ryan Carson, Treehouse CEO and co-founder
For example, the designer and developer Chris Coyier is a proponent of learning to code for designers. In his book “Practical SVG,” he argues that learning to code allows designers to create scalable vector graphics (SVGs) that are not only visually appealing but also functional.He also emphasizes that learning to code helps designers to communicate better with developers and create designs that are technically feasible.
“Designers who don’t know how to code are at the mercy of those who do.” – Brad Frost, designer and front-end developer
Designers should learn to code as it helps them to create designs that are both visually pleasing and functionally efficient. It also enables better collaboration between designers and developers and allows for more experimentation and prototyping. While learning to code may seem intimidating at first, the benefits it provides to designers make it a worthwhile investment of time and effort.